Shadow Slave

Even after living through the horrors of the Southern Campaign and witnessing the chilling resolution of the Battle of the Black Skull, Sunny still paled at the sight of the enormous swarm of Corrupted Beasts. There were too many of them to count, but there had to be tens of thousands of translucent crustaceans advancing toward the island.

Even Nephis seemed taken aback- a rare sight, and not a welcome one. She instinctively outstretched a hand, as if summoning a sword could save them from the plague of Corrupted abominations.

"It's... it's alright."

Her voice was even but lacked confidence.

Sunny forced out a faint smile.

"How exactly is this alright?"

Nephis lingered for a moment.

"These creatures don't seem capable of leaving the water."

Sunny closed his eyes for a moment. Yes, the abominable krill were probably incapable of crawling onto the island and devouring them. However, they were more than capable of devouring the Azure Serpent. And with the old snake gone, nothing would prevent the dark butterfly from landing on the shell of the slain Great Monster.

"That's right. You are going to die."

He flinched and glared at the Sin of Solace, who had appeared out of nowhere and looked at him with dark glee.

The sword wraith laughed, and then whispered:

"Better yet, you are going to watch Nephis die. Isn't it poetic?"

Sunny tried to ignore the vile apparition, but this time, it was much harder than usual. With the words of the Sin of Solace still echoing in his ears, he forced himself to look away and stare at the river.

huffed, and suddenly shot toward the krill swarm with tremendous speed. The water parted

but he knew that they were filled with bloodlust and fury. That snake... did not know when to retreat.

really. What

The Azure Serpent's extreme bloodlust had made it into a much more fearsome existence

of thousands of Corrupted abominations? No matter how large its maw was and how sharp its fangs were, the serpent could only crush that many krill in its

flesh. Even though there was a vast gap between the two Ranks, it was not as insurmountable as that between the two Masters and the Azure

been different if the mad beast possessed unnatural powers, but it only possessed inconceivable physical might. Not all enemies, however, could

And yet, and yet...

couldn't help but root for the

on, old

was closing in on the rushing krill swarm, moments away from clashing with it. It seemed like a suicidal

it

the next moment, Sunny and Nephis swayed, pushed back by the shockwave of a demented, enraged roar. Even distorted by the mass of water, it was still

The krill, however...

like a battering ram. Sunny's eyes widened when he

abominations... were

to the Azure Serpent, were paralyzed completely,

sense as far as he could, and then a little further still. He just barely managed to sense the massive shape of the Great

was why he sensed the mighty muscles of the serpent moving, his long body contracting like a bow. Then, its tail shot forward like a whip, and a sudden explosion sent countless tons of water rushing outward in a crushing wave. The sonic boom was even louder than

more were completely obliterated by the tail

were already rushing from all

snapped,

a drop in

suddenly spun, as if trying to turn its long snout into a drill. Sunny did not see how this could help the Great Beast against the swarm of

the waters of the Great River were stirred, forming a long whirlpool along the length of its colossal body. That underwater whirlpool was like liquid armor, the current powerful enough to repel the